Washington’s Department of Enterprise Services Loses Its Director
Matt Jones stepped down as director of Washington’s Department of Enterprise Services on July 16, 2026, following a personal leave that began July 9. Jones remains employed by the agency, but Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office has not explained why Jones took leave or what prompted the leadership change.
A Department of Enterprise Services official confirmed there are no allegations of criminal wrongdoing. That is the only public explanation offered so far.
The department is not a small operation. It manages state facilities across Washington and carries more than 900 employees, a $280 million operating budget, and a $1.2 billion capital program.
$1.2 billion in capital programs now under interim leadership with no timeline for a permanent director
That gap matters because capital programs involve long-term planning, procurement contracts, and construction oversight. Leadership instability at the top can delay decisions that affect state facilities for years.
Ferguson Names a Veteran Administrator as Interim
Ferguson tapped Employment Security Department Commissioner Cami Feek to lead the Department of Enterprise Services while a permanent director search proceeds. Feek has worked in Washington state government for decades, including stints at the attorney general’s office, the Washington State Patrol, and the department’s predecessor agency, General Administration.
She joined the Employment Security Department in 2017 and played a central role in launching Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Former Gov. Jay Inslee appointed her commissioner in 2021. Ferguson kept her in that post when he took office.
With Feek moving to the interim director role, Martin McMurry, chief operations officer of the Employment Security Department, will serve as interim commissioner there. Both departments are now operating under temporary leadership simultaneously.
Chief Operations Officer Jo Aiken informed Department of Enterprise Services employees in a Wednesday memo that a recruitment for a permanent director will begin. No timeline was given.
Jones himself is a long-tenured state employee. He started at the predecessor agency in 2006 and has been with the Department of Enterprise Services since its formation in 2011. Ferguson appointed him acting director in January 2025 and to the permanent director post in July 2025.
What You Can Do Now
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Contact the Governor’s office at (360) 902-4111 and ask for a public explanation of the leadership change at the Department of Enterprise Services. State agencies with billion-dollar capital programs require transparent governance. Constituents are entitled to know why a sitting director was placed on leave.
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Contact your state legislators. Find your Washington state representative and senator at app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder and ask them to request a briefing from the Ferguson administration on the Department of Enterprise Services transition timeline and any impact on active capital projects.
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Track the Department of Enterprise Services director search. The agency is required to post executive recruitments publicly. Monitor the Washington State careers site for the job posting and submit public comment if there is a formal input period.
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Ask your local government about state facility contracts. Municipalities and counties often work directly with the Department of Enterprise Services on leases, facilities, and procurement. Contact your city or county executive to ask if any active agreements may be affected by the leadership gap.
Sources
Washington State Standard: WA Agency Director Out as Ferguson Installs an Interim Leader Washington Department of Enterprise Services: Agency Overview and Budget Information Washington State Employment Security Department: Cami Feek Commissioner Bio Washington State Legislature: District Finder for Constituent Contacts